City officials assessing storm damage in Duluth; some parks and trails closed

Mammoth Lake Superior waves crashing ashore in Canal Park.
Mammoth Lake Superior waves crashing ashore in Canal Park in Duluth on Wednesday.
Andrew Krueger | MPR News

Officials in Duluth are continuing to assess the damage left along the Lake Superior shore by Wednesday's storm.

City officials said Thursday that several parks and trails along the lakeshore are temporarily closed because of debris and damage left by large waves, including:

  1. Brighton Beach

  2. The Lakewalk from Canal Park to Leif Erikson Park — Parts of the Lakewalk had been closed before Wednesday's storm as crews worked to fix damage caused by big waves last October.

  3. The 12th Street beach access on Park Point

    Waves pound the shoreline in Canal Park.
    Waves pound the shoreline in Canal Park on Wednesday in Duluth as a strong fall storm affected northern Minnesota.
    Derek Montgomery for MPR News

    The harborside sidewalk near the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center and Great Lakes Aquarium also was damaged, as water surged from Lake Superior into the harbor, driven by easterly winds in excess of 60 mph.

    Photos: Winds whip up 20-foot waves on Lake Superior

    City officials are working on a dollar estimate for the damage; they said they expect to have that ready early next week.

    "Additional and more thorough assessments will occur in the coming days," the city reported in a news release Friday. "The city continues to communicate with its county and state partners to coordinate the process for emergency state aid."

    Wednesday's storm caused large waves and shoreline flooding not just in Duluth but all along the North Shore, including in Grand Marais.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.